Rotational Properties of the Extraordinary Multi-tailed Asteroid P/2013 P5
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Date
2015
Authors
Gustafsson, Annika
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Oregon
Abstract
Observations made with the Hubble Space Telescope in September 2013 revealed that
the asteroid known as P/2013 P5 appeared to have six comet-like tails. Jewitt et al.
(2013) concluded that this extraordinary structure and activity could not be explained
by traditional near-surface ice sublimation or collision events ejecting particles from the
asteroid's surface. Instead, the most likely explanation is that this unusual object has
been spun-up by solar radiation forces to a critical limit which has resulted in the
rotational disruption of the asteroid causing the unique six-tail structure. This
interpretation predicts that the nucleus of this comet-like asteroid should be in rapid
rotation. In November 2013, broadband photometry of P/2013 P5 was obtained with
Lowell Observatory's 4.3-meter Discovery Channel Telescope using the Large Monolithic
Imager to investigate the possibility of rapid rotation. While the variation in the
rotational light curve from these data was too small to be justifiable, morphological
changes in the nucleus-coma system were observed.
Description
27 pages
Keywords
P/2013 P5, Asteroids
Citation
Gustafsson, A. (2015). Rotational Properties of the Extraordinary Multi-tailed Asteroid P/2013 P5. Oregon Undergraduate Research Journal, 8(1). doi:10.5399/uo/ourj.8.1.4